Northeast · Not permitted
Payday loans in Pennsylvania
Payday lending is not permitted in Pennsylvania. Any company offering two-week, high-fee loans here is operating outside state law — the state regulator is the right place to report it.
No license exists for this product in this state, so any lender offering it deserves a report.
The rules behind the numbers
Payday loans are illegal under Pennsylvania law, which strictly limits interest rates on consumer loans.
Statute: 7 P.S. § 6201 et seq. (Consumer Discount Company Act)
Regulator: Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities · www.dobs.pa.gov
Questions people ask here
Is payday lending legal in Pennsylvania?
No. Payday loans are illegal under Pennsylvania law, which strictly limits interest rates on consumer loans. Any storefront or site offering two-week, high-fee loans to Pennsylvania residents is operating outside the law.
What are my legal alternatives in Pennsylvania?
Federal credit-union small-dollar loans (PALs), installment lenders priced under the state cap, employer advances, and local assistance programs. Each costs a fraction of payday pricing.
A lender offered me a payday loan online anyway. Is that legal?
No. The ban applies to offers made to Pennsylvania residents no matter where the company is based. Save the website, the contract and the payment details.
Who do I report an illegal lender to?
Complaints about a licensed lender go to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (www.dobs.pa.gov) — keep the loan agreement and every fee disclosure you were given.
29 storefront lender locations listed statewide in the 2022-02-20 public directory snapshot — each city guide carries its local list.